WASHINGTON – Today, Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01) and House Republicans introduced H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. Congressman David G. Valadao’s legislation, the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act, is included in the bill.

“This administration’s regulatory assault on American energy production has been devastating for my constituents in the Central Valley, who were paying over six dollars a gallon for gas over the summer, and during the winter saw their monthly energy bills skyrocket because of high natural gas prices”, said Congressman Valadao. “America has some of the greatest energy resources of any nation in the world – we should be using these resources to create jobs, strengthen our national security, and bring prices down. The Lower Energy Costs Act is comprehensive legislation that will cut red tape and allow us to increase our supply of safe, clean, and affordable energy. I am proud to join my colleagues to introduce this vital legislation.”

Background:

Congressman Valadao introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act, which is included in the Lower Energy Costs Act. Rep. Valadao’s bill would streamline the approval process for energy production by allowing the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to use previously conducted Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the approval of projects with similar environmental impacts.

The Lower Energy Costs Act restores American energy independence by:

·         Increasing domestic energy production

·         Reforming the permitting process for all industries

·         Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden Administration

·         Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports

·         Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals

The full text of the bill can be found here.

A section-by-section summary of the bill can be found here. 

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